Photocomposing machine



April 30, 1935. E, coo ET AL 1,999,831

PHOTOCOMPOSING. MACHINE Filed April s, 1954 s sh eets-sheet' 1 {NVEN fogs,

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A TTORNEY5.

April 30, 1935. E, COOPER r AL 1,999,831

PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE I I INVENTORS, 5W 6 M MM ATTORNEYS,

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITEFDSTATE 13 Claims.

This inventionrelates to photooomposing machines wherein sensitized plates receive photographic images, step by step, for use afterwards in printing. It has for its object to supply amachine the parts of which shall be capable of being accurately set and efiectively operated in the production of such plates to be afterwards used in color and other printing.

To this end, one of the objects of the invention provides for the accurate setting of the negative in a negative holder in order that the multiplication of prints from the negative upon a sensitized plate suchas zinc shall be spacedand positioned properly upon the plate. I

Another object is to ensure that the moving parts of the machine shall be adjusted and set in such a manner that the movements in a longitudinal direction of agroup-oi parts shall be substantially at right angles to the movements of the same transversely in the machine.

Provision is also made for mounting a negative carrier or carriers on shafts and for supporting and very accurately setting and adjusting the shafts. To ensure intimate contact between the negative and the sensitized plate prior to the image being printed thereon, we use a rubber gasket, preferably double, between'the negative and the plate in which a partial vacuum is created and broken after printing and before the'negative is moved the'next step over the plate.

The machine is such that the transverse movements of a negative carrier over a table carrying a sensitized plate are effected through a carriage moving over transverse rails while the placing longitudinally of the negative occurs through the movements of the carrier shafts in the carriage. In this way, photoprints are made on theplate, either transversely or longitudinally, step by step, in either direction with great exactness; after which the plate is developed in the'ordinary'way Ioruse in a printing machine.

For the accurate movement of the parts step by step, longitudinal andtransverse scale bars r are provided on the machine rails with means for closely reading the calibrations prior to anchoring the adjusted partsin predetermined po-' sitions. Alternatively, instead of the longitudinal scale bar, a bar notched to scale and a riding pawl canbe used, the notched bar being special to the spacing of a'particular job or jobs and kept for the repetition of a job. 1f desired, a transverse scale bar having the same character may be employed.

Means are also provided for driving the parts longitudinally. or transversely over the machine PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE Application April 9, 1934, Serial No. 718,772

' In Australia April 7., 1933 Fig. 8.

PATENT oF ics Rflssuu) bedand for minutely setting and adjusting the same with the scale bars after being so moved andfor anchoring the same when so adjusted.

But in ordertofully understand the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which J I Fig. l is a. front elevation of the photocomposing machine, and" 7 Fig.2 isa plan of same.

Fig. 3'shows a negative carrier in sectionalelevation. i y r Fig. 4 is a detailinside elevationoi! a table lifting means, therebeing, if; desired, a table and means at each side the machine for printing on two or four plates simultaneously. V

Fig. 5 is a plan, on the line X of Fig. 1, of the table raising and lowering means that may be interacting between a table at one side and the table at the other-side of the machine.

Fig. 6 shows in end sectional elevation thecontrol tower, the figure being taken from the line Z of Fig. 1.' I

Fig. '7 represents the main working parts of the machine, in plan view, enlarged from Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a "sectional elevation on line A, Fig. 2; of the transverse adjustment means "and showing devices :for looking a longitudinal movement.

Fig. 9 shows in sectional detail means for looking a transverse movement, taken at line C,

, Fig. 10 is a sectional end elevation. at line B of Fig. l, of means for moving the carriage transversely in the machine.

Fig. 11 is a plan of the same for correcting the position of the parts laterally. 5 Fig. 12 shows in perspective view the longitudinal scale bar, the'setting plate and the notch bar'holder.

Fig. 1315 also a perspective view of the special job notch bar, carrying two sets of notches. 40 Fig. 14 is a sectional end elevation oi a carrier shaft and its adjustable supports. a 7 Fig. 1'5 shows in front sectional elevation a supporting plate of the carrier shafts and the steady-. ing means thereon in contact with the machine. carrying rails. Y I

s Fig. 16 illustrates in sectional elevation a register table with negative frame in place and under adjustment.- H Fig. 1'7- is a plan view of the register table and negative frame in position therein, under ad:- justment, and

4 Fig. 18 .is a fragmentary view, enlarged, of the table, negative holder "containing, thenegative 66 .by the keys 38, in the usual manner.

frame, the sensitized plate under the negative and double gasket in place.

The frame-work or base 20 of the machine is fixed and supports the transverse rails 2! upon which the superstructure and carriage are erected and move. Also on the frame-work is a rail 222 bearing the transverse scale bar, and the aligning bars 25. The vertical plates 24 are secured to the stay or brace rods 26 of which there are several and constitute the carriage of the chine that is supported on rollers 25 one of ch is at the front and rear edges of the plates ac. To steady the machine during extended movements, rollers 24, Fig, 15, are attached to the plates 2% in sucha way as to be suspended therefrom and to come under and in contact with the rails 25 on which the carriage moves. The rollers 2 i will remain in contact with the rail to avoid any tipping of the superstructure during extended longitudinal movements thereof. The carrying wheels '25 are driven from the spur pinions at one end of the structure. The carrier shafts pass through the plates 24 but are not journalled therein. The plates carry on their outer faces brackets in which are rollers 23 that bear upon and support the shafts. The rollers are eccentrically mounted, see Fig. 14, on their bolts, by turning which the positions of the shafts can be individually altered and the whole set arranged in parallel while being free to move through the plates 24 and the rollers.

The carriage plates it only indirectly support the shafts, the holes therein through which the shafts pass being bored to a master plate or jig, each opening being such as to carry a bush with clearance between the shaft. A convenient way for proving the shafts 2! parallel is to arrange for same to pass centrally through the holes in the plates, with slight clearance, the positions a then being checked by feeler gauges inserted between the shafts and the bushes.

t their ends the shafts support the plates each of which is attached to and maintains a negative carrier 38 suspended over a table 3|. The table or tables when actuated should move in a vertical plane and to ensure such movements the downwardly depending legs of each table pass between rollers similar to rollers 28 held on the framework 20. The legs are secured at right angles to the tables which are raised and lowered through the legs by any convenient means such as the foot pedals 32 and levers 33 which. can be interacting through levers 34 and the connecting rod 35, Fig. 1. The rod may be uncoupled and each table moved, if required,

' independently.

In machines of the kind indicated, it is of great importance to set and mount the negative correctly in its support, that is to say, at dead centre with the keys or dowels. To this end, the negative before being placed in the negative carrier 88 is put in the register frame 36 which contains the chase member 31 to which the negative in its mount can be secured, when set to register, But in order to set the negative quickly and accurately to the artists marks, the usual screws 39 are upon the register frame together with the screws All are provided with rollers on the tips in contact with the negative frame 4| and the screws 4'? are provided with spring buffers against which will be borne the pressure of the screws 39 by which the negative holder can be moved in a gyratory way to bring the negative to register dead centre, the negative holder and frame or mounting 4i meanwhile moving easily on the rollers 42 of the screws 40. When the negative 4'5 is properly set it is locked in the chase and taken out and placed on a similar set chase in the negative carrier 30 and therein held over the sensitized plate 43 that rests on a cloth 44 on the table 3!. Between the negative and the plate 43 is a rubber double gasket 45 that serves to keep the plate and negative in their relative positions while the photo print is being made. We therefore attach into the gasket, pipes through which a vacuum pump may operate to provide a partial vacuum in the gasket and at the proper time admit air thereto to break the vacuum to permit the gasket to freely leave the plate. The leads of tubes come in through the control tower 41' that is mounted on the shafts 2?. The lead to vacuum pump is marked 48 and lead $9 is to atmosphere or an air compressor. The lead 50 is to the electric lamps upon each end of the movable arms 5!, supported on the tower 4?. Also on the tower are the necessary switches and controls of the working parts and of the gasket -35, to which air or vacuum is provided through pipe 52, Fig. 18. The lights are switched on while the lamps hang over the negative to print the image on the sensitized plate. After printing, the table is lowered away and the carrier 36 is moved further over the table into position to print the next picture. To keep the images in proper alignment, it is consequently necessary to so adjust the parts of the machine that same will move longitudinally in a direction that shall be exactly at right angles with the line of movement transversely.

On a carrier shaft 21 a bar 53, called the setting bar, Figs. 7, 10 and 12, is mounted and moves with the shafts over a fixed scale bar 54 bearing the required calibrations and that is supported on brackets 55 on a stay rod 26. In the forward end the setting bar is fitted with a window 56, Fig. 12, that is brightly illuminated and lined to assist the operator in reading the calibrations on the rail 54.

To cause the shafts and control tower to be moved longitudinally in the machine, a hand wheel 57 is on the tower 41, that operates a rack and pinion through suitable gearing. To slow down the movement when setting the position of the parts through the window 56, the back gear is employed through the hand wheel 50 on the spindle of which is a pinion El, that engages with the spur wheel 52, on the spindle of which is the pinion 58 in mesh with the teeth of a rack 59 supported between the carriage plates 24. The final setting movement will be effected through the wheel 50 and the parts can then be locked or anchored through the clamping jaw 63, Fig. 8, and thumb screw 54 carried by a shaft 21 and adapted to grip upon a. fixed rod I00.

To move, adjust and secure the parts transversely, a scale bar is upon the transverse rail 22 over which the carriage is moved through hand wheel 56 on spindle El and gearing 68 associated with the carrying wheels 25. When the movement through the hand wheel 66 is nearly complete it is finished through the device illustrated in Fig. 8. This comprises a bracket mounted on a forward stay rod 25 bearing a. thumb nut 10 on the spindle 69, which is screw threaded, and connected at its forward end to links ll arranged togglewlse. The lower pair of links are at an obtuse angle and to the end of the rearward link a sliding shoe 12 upon the rail 22 is connected. On the shoe is a pressure screw 13 by which the shoe can be smured w th: rail. The forward arm '14 extendsovm-the driving rod 61 into anothershoeadapted togrip the rail 22. through. the thumb'screw 15 and terminates in the lined window" over the scale bar 65,Figs. '7 and 8. Now, after the superstructure has been moved the approximate distance by thehaml wheel 66, same can with accuracy be adjusted and positioned by operating the nut I0, after the shoe "lzhas been secured to 22, to alter the po sition of the lower pair of links ll. If the screw be turnedto, cause the links to come. more into line the member 16 will be moved forward over the scale 65, and reversely if the angle between 'thelinks H is reduced, thus setting. the line. in

line on the scale. After sosetting, the screw'li is used to secure the partsto the rail 2lzafter, if desired, easing the shoe". 1 Instead of the longitudinal scale notched bar holder 11 can be on a front stay rod 26 and empioyed'with a pawl {don the- Set bar 53. Inathe holder the notch'bar IQ willbe held in place and reliedupon instead of the stops 80 that are engaged by the pawl 18 as the bar 53 moves. The notchesin the bar 19 willbe positioned to suit a particular job and after use will be identified with that job for use again on repeat orders. There may be two sets of notches in the bar, as shown, each applying, to a particular job. As the setting. bar moves with. its pawl longitudinally with a carrier shaft-21., the pawl will drop into a notch in the bar 19, the distance between centres in they notches being the distance between centres of the images or prints to be made on the sensitized plate. A table is at each end of the machine, each table carrying a sensitized plate. Two plates can been each table over each of which will be suspendeda double negative carrier Bil.

In the application 6: the negative to the,

sensitized printing plate andfordeveloping the same, the image to be placed on. the plate is in the form of a negative made photographically or through dia-positives from original stones or plates. The negatives are set in a frame or register to accord with the artists or register marks and are placed in the negative carrier, one going into each end of the machine. The printing plates are coated with a photographic solution which becomes sensitive'to light when dry. Working in an orange light, the plates are at tached to the tables and the negatives are stepped accurately over the plates, the position of each step, prior to exposureto the arc lamps, being a cciu'ately located by the adjustment means provided in the machine. After the plate has received the required number of exposures, it is rolled up all over witha black developing ink and placed under water and developed. This ink is soluble in water except where it comes in con- .tact with light which causes the colloid in the record upon the negative or negatives can be accurately and expeditiously printed, step by step, upon a sensitized printing plate or plates.

parts an primarily set,1as hereinbefcre exptainledyforv longitudinal movement in the machine, so provision must be made for primarily set-tingor hiring the parts for the transverse movements. islooked after through the rails 23, which are. securely held and supported on the bed frame- 20. The carriage is supported the rollers 25. moving on the rails 21 and in tl wstructure are front and rear stay rods '26.. Hung on the said stay rods through the bracketsll is a plate 82 over each rail 23 and bolted at. each end at the points 84 to an adjustment plate 8-3; The two opposing bolts 84 are in obliqueslots made in the plate 82 and the other :bcrlt serves as a pivot for adjusting plate 82 in I relation to rail 23.. On the adjustment plate 83 behind the bolts M are rollers 85 which are mlountedoneccentric spindles and the rollers bear against the'edge's ofthe rail 23. The plates 82 are braced across the machine by irons 86.. If the .bolts 84 are loosened the superstructure may be slightly :slewed or turned to alter the direction of travel of same, upon the rails 21 andthe'flnal minute adjustment made to a standard line or to measurements by operating the eccentric rollers 85., after which the bolts .84 are again secured. a r

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a photocomposing machine, a body, trans-'- verse rails thereon, a carriage and a vertical ported bytheplates, negative carriers on the ends of said shafts, means for supporting a 'holed plate at each side movable over therails, carrier shafts that pass through and are supnsitized. plate under each negative and means for moving the'negative carriers with the shafts longitudinally or transversely step by ,step over the sensitized plates to print the photographed image. thereon.

' 2.. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage andvcrtical holedjplates adapted to transverse movements therein, carrier shafts thatpass through the plates, brackets on the vertical plates, rollers having eccentric spindles in the brackets said rollers bearing upon and supporting the shafts, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts and means for moving-same longitudinally or transversely in the machine. 1 I Y 3. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage and vertical holed plates adapted to transverse movements therein, carrier shafts that pass through and are supported by theplates, nega tive carriers on the ends of said shafts, a scale bar on the machine and means for moving the carrier shafts and connections over the scale bar and for locking the parts when set.

.4. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage andvertical holed plates adapted to transverse movements therein, carrier shafts that pass through and are supported by the plates, negative carriers onthe ends of said shafts, a control tower on the shafts, a setting bar on a carrier shaft, a notched bar made to suit the spacing of a particular job held under the setting bar and a pawl thereon that, as the shafts and negative carriers move longitudinally, engages in the notches to control the step by step movements of the negatives.

i 5. In a photocomposingmachine, a carriage and vertical holed plates adapted to transverse movements therein, shafts that move through and are supported by the plates, negative carriers on the ends of said shafts, means for supporting a sensitized plate under each negative and means whereby the parts can be adjusted and set in such a manner that the movements in a longitudinal direction or" a group of parts shall be substantially at right angles with the movements of said parts transversely in the machine.

6. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, a carriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage, carrier shafts adapted to move through while being supported the plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, means for supporting a sensitized plate under each negative, a table adapted to be moved vertically carrying each plate, and means whereby the negatives are moved step by step over the plates transversely with the carriage and longitudinally through the movements in said carriage of the carrier shafts.

7. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, a carriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage, stay rods between, the plates, carrier shafts adapted to move through the plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, a calibrated rail parallel to the transverse rails, means for moving the carriage over the rails, a toggle device on a stay rod, clamping means at the rear end thereof, a clampable hood at the other end movable over the calibrations on the third rail when the toggle is operated to minutely adjust the position of the superstructure.

8. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage adapted to transverse movements therein, vertical holed plates on the carriage, stay rods between the plates, shafts thatmove through and are supported by the plates, negative carriers on the ends of said shafts, means for supporting a sensitized plate under each negative and a table bearing each sensitized plate adapted to be moved vertically towards or away from a negative.

9. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage adapted to transverse movements therein, vertical holed plates supported by stay rods on the carriage, shafts adapted to move through the plates, negative carriers on the ends of said shafts, means for supporting a sensitized plate under each negative, a table bearing each sensitized plate movable towards or away from a negative, a rubber gasket between a sensitized plate and a negative and means for creating a partial vacuum within the gasket and for releasing same from the sensitized plate.

10. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, a carriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage, a plurality of stay rods between the plates, a rail parallel to the carriage rails, carrier shafts adapted to move through the holed plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, means on a stay rod for setting and locking the transversely movable parts on the parallel rail and means on a carrier shaft and another stay rod for locking the parts in longitudinal alignment.

11. In a photocomposing machine, abody, transverse rails thereon, a carriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage, a

plurality of stay rods between the plates, carrier shafts adapted to move through the holed plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, rails parallel to the carriage rails, brackets on the stay rods and plates attached to the brackets suspended over said parallel rails, an adjustment plate below and at each end of each suspended plate boltable thereto and rollers eccentrically mounted on the adjustment plates that bear on each side of a parallel rail whereby the direction of travel of the carriage. may be altered.

12. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, a carriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage, shafts movable through the holed plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, brackets depending from the holed plates over the carriage rails and a wheel in each bracket adapted to engage and move over the underside of a rail.

13. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage adapted to transverse movement therein, vertical holed plates on the carriage, shafts adapted to move through the plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, means for supporting a sensitized plate on the table under each negative, a frame in which the negative is positioned to be made to register dead centre, a register table bearing the frame, roller tipped pressure screws on the table bearable upon the sides of the frame and buffer springs in the screws on two adjacent sides of the table.

EDWARD EUGENE COOPER. ALBERT THEODORE TROEDEL. 

